Let’s talk about “DRONES” that are fast changing the landscape of travel. These are referred to as UAVs or Unmanned Aerial vehicles. These are remote-controlled flying robots that are controlled using systems with GPS. These used to be associated with military uses and search and rescue operations, as well as weather monitoring, firefighting, traffic monitoring and surveillance. These days, one of its more popular and practical applications for the public is in the field of travel.
Video from Alex Chacon with his drone…
Nick Vivion and Mike Dunphy of the Road Warrior Voices came with several posts about these drones used in travel. Before picking your personal drone, check out these posts published in Road Warrior Voices –Technology Section.
- This Uber-portable Drone Will Make Your Travel Films Epic (By Nick Vivion)
NIXIE is a wearable technology that can soar up to follow the user’s actions. This wrist-wrapping drone can fly off from your wrist to take epic shots of the action around you. Most definitely a competitor to GoPro, this sort of angle has never before been seen in travel.
It consists of a soft, grippy band worn around the wrist that doubles as a drone. The straps can be stretched out and flattened to function like propellers. Once it is airborne, it can capture images of yourself while you are deep into the action of an adventurous escapade or extreme sport. It has the ability to take expansive action shots to capture a spectacular feat that can be too hard to seize from a tripod precariously setup at an impossible angle.
2. Are Drone Selfies the Next Wave of Envy-inducing Travel Sharing? (By Nick Vivion)
Who hasn’t heard of “selfies”? If you want to go a notch higher in the selfie experience, find out more about “dronies,” or drone selfies. There are two dronies that can make everyone wonder how those incredible shots are taken: the Phantom 2 Vision+ and the Pocket Drone.
The Phantom 2 Vision+ “doesn’t come cheap (over $1k) but provides a reliable and stable base for aerial footage capture.” It also works well for the emerging dronies that can take live shots with fly-by drones. The Pocket Drone is a compact drone suitable for travel. “The Pocket Drone folds up into the size of a 7? tablet, making this the most portable travel drone on the market.”
3. This amazing drone camera will take epic videos of your adventures (By Nick Vivion)
Lily is a drone merely the size of your palm. It is fitted with a small transmitter that allows it to monitor your movements. It is a fabulous action-packed adventure companion as it stays with you wherever you go despite the precarious position and location; so it can capture “the full range of motion for tricks, stunts and moves. It can slide easily into a backpack and be ready for immediate action. The drone casing itself is also waterproof, and amazingly, it can land on water without a problem.
These will not be the last you’ll hear about these hi-tech travel companions. In fact, the travel industry is seeing more uses for it. Check this post by Mike Durphy Drone Lifeguards Set to Save swimmers in Tuscany.
Drones are also about to be utilized to monitor the beaches and waters around Forte dei Marmi — the posh “Tuscan Riviera” in Italy – for swimmers in danger of drowning. It has sensors designed to detect life jackets in the water, as well as screams and shouts of flailing swimmers. These will signal the drones to drop up to three life vests into the water.
“Roberto Santini, who owns the exclusive Piero Beach Club, where the drones will be put in action … believes the machines can reach those in the water faster and more efficiently than people…”
So when you’re going for a swim and there just seems to be no human lifeguard presence, you can toss your caution into the wind, “just scream like mad” and you’ll be rescued by a drone.
For the adventurers who want those action shots taken from amazing angles, say hello to these drones.
